Of Computers...

Surprised by the recent flood of posts? Don't be. I was kept apart from my computer for three and a half weeks due to some harddrive problems...and an information error at the store that made the tech people tell me I had to send it in and get fixed, when in reality they should have just given me a new computer (which is what we were lobbying for all along!). Finally, Wednesday night, my father and I went in and were able to pick up a new computer.

I love the new computer. It's WHITE - (mac-wannabe, my sister says) - which I'm happy about because the white keys reflect light, so when I'm typing in low-light situations I won't be straining my eyes the way I was with my black keys. It's also a bit smaller and lighter than my previous computer, which is nice for carrying purposes.

It was an interesting experience being without a personal laptop for an extended period of time. I was blessed by family members who understood that my hearing-loss, online responsibilities, and writing needs create a severe dependancy on computers, and they did their best to help me out. My grandparents had a laptop they were able to loan me for a week and a half, and my mother was gracious about sharing her laptop with me the rest of the time. For this I am extremely grateful.

But it is much, much nicer to have my own computer, on which I can save my documents, download my own software, and use whenever I want. Plus, my mother's laptop was about ten pounds, which is ridiciously heavy for a laptop these days.

Anyhow, there is the reason, you see the result. Explanation over.

The First Issue of "Ink and Fairydust" was a Sucess!

Greeted with cheers of approval by its recipients, the first issue of the e-newspaper "Ink and Fairy-dust" has been declared a sucess! We are now hard at work on our next issue, which will be released October 1st. If you haven't already, we'd love to invite you to subscribe to this publication! It can be done by simply sending your e-mail address to inkandfairydust@yahoo.com under the subject heading "Ink and Fairydust Subscription."

For a little more information about this project, I am sharing my introduction which appeared on the second page of the September issue.

“Ink and Fairydust”
An Introduction by Elenatintil

On your computer screen (or in your hands) you are currently reading the first issue of “Ink and Fairydust”, an e-newspaper.

This publication is the brainchild and work of the FT-Novel Forums, an online community joined by mutual admiration for the books of Regina Doman. Our goals are threefold:

1. To provide a place for our aspiring authors to publish their works within the confines of submission deadlines and (horrors!) editors.

2. To keep the FT-Novel community up-to-date on the events on the forum, in Regina’s life, and on the production of the movie “The Shadow of the Bear” (based on Regina’s first book).

3. To encourage others to grow both in their Christian faith and in their ability to look at the world through the wonder of fairy-tales.

By reading this publication you are making it possible for these goals to be accomplished. We thank you!

“Ink and Fairydust” is a name that declares our (the writers') love for the written word and for the wonder of faerie. We earnestly believe both aspects to be important ways of learning more about the world. It is also, in a way, a pointer to the way Christ, our Lord and Master, reveals himself to us both through his written word (The Holy Bible) and natural revelation.

If the words of this publication inspire you, teach you, or bring a smile to your lips, that will be one more blessing upon our work. Should you wish to seek out even more of it, we would first direct you towards Regina’s books, and secondly invite you to join our forum. We can be found anytime at fairytalenovels.proboards.com

-Elenatintil, Editor-in-Chief

Writing Quote of the Week

I recall, when writing at white heat, the utter amazement I felt on reading something I had written, and saying, "Now where did that come from?" Thoreau felt somewhat the same when he said, "It is like going fishing. One never knows what one will catch." Writing at its best must come from deep within, for there is where truth and originality lie; none comes entirely from the upper tenth of gray matter. It is when one reaches down into the dark realms of the past that great ideas surge forth.

~Sigurt F. Olson, "Intuition" - Reflections from the North Country

How to Host a Renaissance Fair

Ever wondered whether you could host a medieval feast or Renaissance fair of your own? Well you can - and economically as well!

I've written a three part series for publication on the Associated Content website. The nice thing about AC is that ever 1000 page views I get, I earn another $1.50. So I can earn a bit of cash to help stretch my pocketbook further, and you can get more cool information than I normally post on the blog! It's a win-win situation!

Part I - How to Host a Renaissance Faire
--On the basics

Part II - Hosting a Renaissance Feast the Cheap and Easy Way
--On the food

Part III - How to Decorate Your Own Renaissance Fair
--On the decorations

An Unannounced Change in the MPAA

According to Christianity Today Movies:

"As it turns out, movie previews are no longer approved for all audiences. The change, instituted by the MPAA’s Classification and Ratings Board, went into effect this April, but was not announced to the public."

What? Are they serious?

Yes. They are.

Read the rest of the article here.

When Plotting Misbehaves

Well, I'm at a perfectly lovely coffee shop, but my story is refusing to cooperate. That is, the plotting of book two is being most difficult. I'd really like to send the disobediant thing into a corner for a time out...which would result in a break for me, which would really be sensible. But I'm a stubborn person and I hate to put aside problems that are unresolved.

Oh well.

Editing book one is going well, however. I'm really fine tuning now, making sure that every sentance conveys what I want it to. That each paragraph is important, that I show instead of tell, and that my premise is reinforced wherever possible.

(Oh yes, thanks to the help of dear Regina Doman I've been able to finally nail down my premise)

But plotting is frustrating. I have the first part of book two full of lovely things...(not lovely for them, necessarily, but most enjoyable for a reader)...yet part two is unsettled. I need to decide what the driving force is of the story...for the characters, that is. I do actually believe I have a premise. Perhaps I need to look at it again...

*sigh*

Or maybe I just need more coffee. Except that if I drink coffee now, I'll be up until 2:00 in the morning. Not a pleasant prospect.

Returned!

Ah my dear friends! I've missed you!

My computer went into the shop to be repaired two weeks ago, and our family computer has a blocker on it that would not allow me to access my blogspot dashboard! I've felt so bad that I haven't been able to update!

However the blocker is removed now, and I shall be able to post again now.